how does the book 1984 relate to today?

Answer 1

"1984" was a book that very much foreshadowed what is happening now. Unfortunately, many people either can't or ae unwilling to see what is going on right in front of their eyes.

In "1984", government surveillance was everywhere. Where you went, what you did, who you talked to... the government knew your every move.

Today, we may not have monitoring systems in our homes (yet), but the government has increasing power to invade your privacy. Aside from the fact that your internet activities are monitored and your phone calls can be tapped... I know of a woman who recently had her home searched by police for no reason other than that she is an anti-immigrant activist. Last I checked, that was not a crime, but it leads me to my next point.

In "1984", Winston kept a diary where he wrote down all his treasonous thoughts. He was too afraid to act on them or speak about them- he would have been arrested and tortured, maybe even executed, if he had.

Today, our rights to free speech (and with it, free thought) are being eroded. In the US, certain speech is not protected. "Fighting words" are the best example of this. If you call someone a "(insert epithet of your choice here)" and he decides to punch you for it, you are in the wrong for "inciting violence" or something ridiculous like that. In Germany and Austria, men have recently been arrested, tried, and imprisoned for having politically incorrect opinions. In China, those who speak out against the government are arrested and tortured.

In "1984", undesireable history is effectively erased from existence. If the government decided something hadn't happened or had happened differently than the way it actually did, they spread propaganda around and the masses were expected to believe it.

Today, history is a political tool and is often manipulated to serve the interests of certain groups. An extreme example is that the Chinese are taught that the Tiananmen Square masacre was started by students randomly attacking soldiers. But we see the same thing to a lesser extent in the west. The teaching of the Civil War is a prime example. Most people believe the war was fought over slavery (which isn't true) and that the South was evil and the North was good. The South does not get it's side of the story fairly told in schools and most people do not know anything about it. But it is essential to teach it this way so as to be able to promote politically correct propaganda, usually in the form of multiculturalism. Whether you beileve multiculturalism is good or not is irrelevent- what's important is that you are taught it is good, you believe it, and no one ever offers you another viewpoint. This tactic holds true for the teaching of just about every historical event.

In the world of "1984", a new language has also been invented with the purpose of helping to control the thoughts of the masses.

The comparison today would be the way the media lends connotations to certain kinds of words, which, after a period of time, most people come to accept as the actual definition of the word. For example, when most people hear the word "racism", they immediately think "hate". For these people, the definition of racism is hate. However, the real and original definition of racism was simply that one believed there were genetic difference between the races... nothing at all to do with hate. But people's perception of what this word means affects their social and political views. Another good example would be the word "liberal" or "conservative", which have now taken on meanings that are almost completely opposite from their original definitions and are also politically charged words, sometimes used as insults.

I'm assuming you are asking about this for a school assignment, so hopefully these are enough ideas to get you started. :-)

Answer 2

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Basically, Orwell was trying to warn people of the dangers of a large government. Take into consideration the censoring laws in China and other countries. Communism and Socialism are governments that are completely controlling, and Orwell practically saw into the future and put it into a book. The way Big Brother had ways of tracking people constantly relates to the idea that the government now can (possibly) be monitoring what we do on the internet every time we get online. There were spies in 1984 and in communist countries if small children hear their parents say something bad about the government they can get them executed simply by telling another adult -- It's actually encouraged. In 1984 there was the "2 Minutes Hate" (or so I think, it's been a while since I've read it and I'm not sure if I have that exactly right) where the government showed on a screen the enemy while encouraging the people watching to be engulfed by fury just at the sight of them. Nowadays, we have the news for that, which feeds us as much as what the government allows, as freedom of speech is limited when it comes to "national security." If you look into the book a little more, Orwell noticed a lot of potential in the government. It really is an insightful book for the politically aware.

Answer 3

1984 Today

Answer 4

Nothing actually happened like that in 1984, but it could. And that is the books main message. Having said that, anyone living behind the iron curtain during the cold war probably thought that 1984 was true.
If it were true here, you wouldn't even be able to ask this question.

Answer 5

It really relates to today! George Bush has basically declared an ongoing war against a vague other - "terrorists" - that could last for years and years. He is taking away people's civil rights - like wiretapping their phones and looking at their credit and other information. Also instead of obeying the laws, he issues "signing statements" saying he doesn't have to obey what he disagrees with. There's a whole lot more but those are three examples.

Answer 6

One of the key messages the book 1984 related to today in terms of politics or government is that it portrayed a possible means of oppression via the formidable, absolute BIG BROTHER whose, it seems to me, spy rings are everywhere and ready to take action for any one who disobeys. However, we can see everywhere with flashy large advertisements along streets, in the newspapers, on TV programs, etc. Therefore, it's like we are in the world of business in which every brand competes and does everything to govern their customers like the other avatars of BIG BROTHER who watch and persuade the customers to believe and buy such and such product, service and investment.

Answer 7

reading is much better the book continues u thinking therefore you get more detail in what people are thinking and you simply have more imagination

Answer 8

This book does not at all relate today, except for that every state is still named the same. The world is a dangerous place...watch out for number 7.

Answer 9

It is what we can become if we do not have freedom. If we allow the Islamist to control the world, that will try to monitor our thoughts our freedom. We need to protect our freedoms and see what can happen if we allow others to control us.

Answer 10

cctv, wiretapping,gps,shop-a-neighbour sachemes, proving you will have kids if you get married........

there is a camera on the wall-it's looking at me now.........